PH post hopes for miracle for missing oil rig worker

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino worker remains missing after an explosion and fire hit their oil production platform in the Gulf of Mexico last Friday.

“We Filipinos always believe in miracles and we continue to pray that our other kababayan will be found alive," said Ambassador Jose Cuisia, Jr. of the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C.

The accident claimed the life of another Filipino worker Ellroy Corporal, 42, of Iligan and injured four other Pinoys. The injured workers were treated at the Baton Rouge General Medical Center.

The United States Coast Guard has called off its own search, but Black Elk Energy, the Houston-based owner of the platform, continued on with its own search efforts.

Cuisia personally contacted Corporal’s widow, Mary Jean, to extend his sympathy and to offer whatever assistance that she and her two children may require.

The embassy said there were nine Filipino and five non-Filipino employees of Gulf Isle working on the oil platform at the time of the incident but it could not immediately confirm whether the three who were not reported missing or injured suffered minor injuries or were unhurt.

The Filipino workers are believed to be among an estimated 162 welders, fitters, scaffolders and riggers hired in the Philippines to work in offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.